digitalimmigrant

I am waiting to review six thesis students' final projects for the completion of their Education Specialist degree program.  The students have completed all requirements for their degree--with the exception of the final thesis--through the online delivery of coursework. 

The group is diverse and interesting and has been together for approximately two years.  This "family of researchers" has done wonderfully--with two of the six already published authors (Tennessee Educational Leadership).

Considering the enormous task of completing an online degree with thesis requirement, I started to think about the ethics involved in conducting research and the ethical behavior that must be displayed by graduate researchers.

The process is daunting as well as confusing to some with regard to exactly what to reference in a literature review, how to collect data, procedures for analysis, and accurately presenting findings.  I liken this state of confusion that occurs the first time a "non elementary education" person reads the Cat in the Hat...they rhymes, the nonsense words, etc.!


After searching a bit, I found that this is indeed an interesting area due to the data mining, search-selection, and general vast amount of information readily available via the web.  I also remembered one of my dissertation committee members describing the ethics involved in researching and telling me, "Whatever you do, you still have to face yourself in the mirror in the morning!"  Wise advice!

For example, try conducting a search using the key words, "online research," and you literally get hundreds of hits for sites where there are "papers for purchase!"  It is truly sickening!

Here are a few web resources that may assist the process and which may also provide insight into the ethics and ethical behavior that is required of all successful researchers. 

I hope this helps!

Great web resources:

• Ethics Course / University of Montana
  
• What is ethics in research?
  
• Ethical and Legal Aspects of Human Subjects Research
  
• Code of Ethics